San Miguel, El Salvador is a hub for migrants from across the region. And, often times, it is a shared faith, namely Catholicism and Protestantism, that links newcomers and locals together. In this article, Jocsan Blanco and Fernanda Escobar explore how churches go beyond spiritual support in aiding migrants—from helping them meet basic needs, find jobs, feel part of a supportive social network, and more—a testament to the power of faith organizations in facilitating migrants’ social integration.
Case Report
Çarşamba, Bursa, Turkey
Zahed Mukayed, a Syrian refugee living in Istanbul, and Ezgi Irgil, a Turkish PhD student living in Sweden, discuss their research with Syrian refugees in Ezgi’s hometown of Bursa. They argue that a lack of Turkish government action on settlement or resettlement for refugees creates distrust and uncertainty. This disrupts everyday life, as Syrian parents worry about the future of their children should they remain in Turkey or return to Syria. This report focuses on three main concerns for Syrian children: potential statelessness, loss of the Arabic language, and racism.
Mzuzu, Malawi
This report explores lived reintegration experiences of Malawian returnees from Johannesburg, living in Mzuzu, Malawi. In this study, Mwaona Nyirongo explores the challenges and opportunities that the returnees face reintegrating to Mzuzu, focusing particularly on the experiences of elderly returnees and those who break with traditional, often religiously and socially conservative norms in Malawian society. Their specific challenges include witchcraft accusations, changes in the business terrain, broken families, challenges with freedom of thought, hunger, extended families which strain them, loss of resources, and lack of social security. The report points out that there are initiatives aimed at helping elderly returnees, but these are not adequate to help them reintegrate smoothly.
Aarhus, Denmark
Abdullah Alsmaeel writes about the difficulties refugee parents face in being involved in their children’s education, from interacting with teachers to openly hostile Danish policies towards refugees. It is difficult to raise children in a new country and culture. But there's a glimmer of hope. Refugee parents Abdullah meets in Aarhus strongly believe that education is a healer and that education benefits all who have access to it. "Education heals the wounds and reduces suffering. Education is a protection," said Farah, 34 years, a mother of three in Aarhus. Refugee parents work to motivate their kids and promote the value of education. Fortunately, in Denmark it is important for parents to be involved in their children’s education, so in this regard, refugees and hosts are already on the same page.
Cape Town, South Africa
Most African migrants living in South Africa have seen or experienced xenophobic attacks in the townships and on city streets. These attacks are a response by poor black South Africans to the presence of African migrants who are perceived as taking away jobs, and whom politicians blame for increasing pressure on social services. The attacks are fueled by the populist rhetoric of politicians determined to divert attention from their persistent failures at service delivery and their unchecked corruption. Barnabas Ticha Muvhuti discusses the microaggressions that foreign restaurant servers face in their workplaces and how they learn to cope with them.